Savannah Danielle Davis-Captain

It is hard to find the right words to describe what Savannah meant to our family, because some of the most meaningful relationships in life simply cannot be explained with words. When Clem became part of the Tuesday group at Savannah Station, he joined three incredible girls. Over time, those four became more than just kids who happened to ride horses together on Tuesday evenings. They became a little team. They learned together, grew together, celebrated each other’s accomplishments, and shared a bond that was uniquely theirs. We always joked that it was “Clem and his Angels,” like Charlie’s Angels—Clem and his three girls. It was something that always made us smile. I don’t think any of us ever imagined how much that little joke would someday mean. Savannah and Clem may not have been able to show their friendship in the ways most people expect friends to. There weren’t always conversations or the typical things we associate with friendship. But one of the things these kids have taught me is that love and friendship don’t require words. You could see it in the way they were comfortable together, the way they recognized each other, and simply in the way they shared space and experiences together. They understood friendship in their own way, and maybe there is something all of us can learn from that. Savannah was also so much more than one of Clem’s teammates. She was the namesake and inspiration behind Savannah Station. Because of Savannah, a place was created that has given so many children and families opportunities they may have never had otherwise. It became a place where kids could get on a horse and experience freedom, confidence, accomplishment, belonging, and friendship. Our family is one of those families. Because of Savannah and the legacy created in her name, Clem found a place where he belongs. He found people who celebrate him exactly as he is. He found horses he loves, people who believe in him, and three Tuesday teammates who became his friends. As a parent, there is no way I could ever adequately say thank you for that. Athena and Jerry, I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing your daughter. But I hope throughout the difficult days ahead, and for many years to come, you are reminded of just how much your Savannah mattered. Her life mattered. She made a difference. And her story isn’t ending here. Every child who comes through the gates at Savannah Station will become another part of her legacy. Every first ride, every accomplishment that once seemed impossible, every smile from the back of a horse, every proud parent watching from the side, and every friendship formed there will carry a little piece of Savannah’s story forward. And our family will always carry a piece of her with us too. I will always be thankful that Savannah and Clem’s paths crossed. I will always be thankful for those Tuesday evenings and for that special little group of four. We used to jokingly call them “Clem and his Angels.” Now one of his angels truly is watching from above. Savannah, thank you for being Clem’s teammate. Thank you for being his friend. Thank you for the memories our families were fortunate enough to share. And thank you for inspiring something that has changed Clem’s life and the lives of so many others. There will always be an empty place in the Tuesday group that no one else can fill, but there will also always be a place for Savannah in our hearts. Ride free, sweet Savannah. You will forever be one of Clem’s Angels. With all our love, Cody, Melissa & Clem